England stay in control despite early loss of wickets

Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali strike early for Pakistan Tea England 35 for 2 (Root 8*, Gay 6*, Abbas 1-8, Ali 1-23) trail Pakistan 133 (Shakeel 43, Tongue 4-42, Robinson 3-15, Archer 3-25) by 98 runs England lost two early wickets but remained in control at tea after their pace attack demolished Pakistan for 133 on the opening day of the third and final Test at Edgbaston. Josh Tongue took 4 for 42 while opening duo Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer claimed three wickets apiece, Robinson bowling with the frugality that has been a feature of his summer with his 3 for 15 coming at an economy rate of 1.36. Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali were two Pakistan players to emerge from the dire 194-run defeat at Lord's unscathed by the resulting cull of squad members and staff and they showed more gumption here, first with the bat then, more predictably, with the ball. They put on 26 runs together for the tenth wicket, more than the total of 20 runs by Pakistan's opening stands across five innings in this series and took one wicket each to send England to tea at 35 for 2.Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Abbas put on the highest stand of the innings•Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images Ben Duckett fell at the end of the fourth over to a loose drive at Ali which ended up in the hands of a fast-reacting Babar Azam at second slip and Abbas rapped Jordan Cox on the back thigh with an inswinger destined for the top of middle and leg stumps. Earlier, Pakistan had crumbled to 26 for 4 and Saud Shakeel was the only recognised batter in their line-up to show any resistance with 43 off 47 balls. Saim Ayub, playing his ninth Test after returning as Pakistan made four changes to their side, survived an early lbw decision on just the fifth ball of the match when Robinson's nip-backer which struck the back thigh pad was shown to be going over off stump. But Ayub unable to overturn another, correct, lbw call as Robinson collected his 100th Test wicket in his next over. Archer saw Azan Awais put down Duckett at first slip, but Tongue held on just three balls later as Awais chipped straight to him at midwicket. Dan Lawrence took a strong low catch of Abdullah Shafique to give Robinson his second for the match and, in the next over, Archer had his brace as Shan Masood fell tamely via a leading edge to sub fielder Theo Wylie. Floundering at 26 for 4, Pakistan needed to stability from captain Babar Azam but he fell for just 7 to an excellent delivery from Tongue which seamed in off a good length and tore out his off stump. With his side now dipping into the ranks of their three debutants, the experienced Shakeel chose to lead with the bat.Babar Azam had his defences breached•AFP/Getty Images Debutant wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori started brightly, cutting Tongue for four off his first ball in Test cricket. He survived an England review for lbw two balls later but, two after that, Tongue pinned him on the back leg with no doubt as to the dismissal. Shakeel peeled off two fours in three deliveries from Gus Atkinson, through the covers and backward point, but his efforts looked in vain as Tongue nailed his yorker to rattle the stumps of another debutant, Mohammad Imran Randhawa. Razaullah showed willing and muscle if not aesthetics as he found the boundary twice off Tongue's fifth over, his pull through midwicket and outside edge over cover not pretty but effective as he and Shakeel saw Pakistan to lunch at 100 for 7. Robinson struck with the third ball after the break, an outswinger which Razaullah edged to slip, where Duckett held on and Shakeel had his off stump ripped out by a Tongue delivery that seamed through the gate, leaving it to Abbas and Ali to salvage what they could.